We have all been told from a young age that it is important to watch our weight. This may have been more directed in the weight gain direction, but nonetheless, we were all told something or other about maintaining our weight. So why is it important to maintain a healthy weight? Firstly, losing muscle mass is a huge downside of gaining or losing weight, it can happen with both. When you lose muscle mass, your body is not always able to carry itself with ease. Secondly, without a healthy bodyweight, you burn fewer calories, which means you have fewer calories to get enough nutrients with.
Saying all of this, a healthy weight is different for each person, meaning it can vary based on gender, body type, ethnic backgrounds etc. The Body Mass Index (BMI) is a great starting point to help you discover and determine a generally healthy weight for someone of your age. If you are concerned about the results or about anything health related, please see a health professional.
Risks of Being Overweight
- Heart disease: when you carry excess weight, the heart has to work that much harder to send blood to your cells.
- High blood pressure: when your body weight increases, your blood pressure can rise considerably.
- Type 2 diabetes: being overweight increases your chances of developing Type 2 as your body becomes resistant to its own insulin.
- Bone and joint issues: there are both thin and heavy people with arthritis, however, developing arthritis in your joints is directly related to your body weight
Risks of Being Underweight
- Osteoporosis: this can be caused mainly from too little vitamin D and calcium
- Not eating enough nutrient dense foods: this can lead to many other side affects including malnutrition, anemia and others
- Being too frail to carry your own body weight: loss of independence and loss of activity can be side affects of being too thin
3 Keys to Getting Enough Nutrients
- Read ingredients
- Know good serving/portion sizes
- Doing research and finding out what nutrients you personally need
Being happy with your body and your weight is not always an easy task. Some people battle with it their whole lives, while others have never been too concerned. No matter where you are on the spectrum, as you age, it’s even more important to be aware of your weight. Things that didn’t seem to affect you before can start creeping up, and your body can react to “regular” things in a different way.